On behalf of Moventis, the Corporate Head of Systems and Technology for the Moventia group, Carles Sanz, took part in the second ‘Mobility in Catalonia: Action, innovation and sustainable future’ forum organised by Prensa Ibérica via El Periódico and Activos.

The event highlighted a number of innovative and sustainable initiatives that are transforming mobility at urban and intercity levels, and was attended by such institutional representatives as Manel Nadal, Mobility and Infrastructures Secretary of the Regional Government of Catalonia, and Laia Bonet, First Deputy Mayor of the City Council of Barcelona.

The forum was also attended by Albert Sáez, Editor of El Periódico de Cataluña; Humberto López Vilalta, Managing Director of TRAM; and Antonio Balmón, Executive Vice-President of Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), among other important representatives, who offered key opinions about the challenges and opportunities facing public transport.

This was the second time that Moventis was involved in the event and its representative, Carles Sanz, took part in the round table discussion entitled ‘Digitalisation, data and smart mobility’ alongside Diego Fernández, Head of Public Transport Services at Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), which was moderated by Martí Saballs, Economic Information Editor at Prensa Ibérica.

The expert from Moventis stressed that digitalisation, the use of artificial intelligence and big data “are real projects that are helping us to streamline operations and provide a better service to users”. He explained that the use of data “lets us measure bus occupancy in real time, reducing wait times and anticipating any temporary need to add more buses to our lines”.

The assessment of international examples with the best transport systems, including the importance of public-private partnerships in the mobility sector, was another key exercise undertaken by the panel. Carles Sanz believes such partnerships to be essential and said “the success stories we have seen stem from a synergy between public authorities and private enterprise”, given that, without this cooperation, many projects would be impossible or might develop more slowly.

Along similar lines and with regard to the development of the integrated fare system, Carles Sanz said that the sector is shifting towards a more flexible and personalised model. The Moventia executive explained that “there is a trend towards offering advantages to those who use these transport services repeatedly”.

The debate also highlighted the challenges being faced by the sector in terms of infrastructure. “We are encountering limitations in some areas when seeking the necessary electricity supply to enable the electrification of our bus fleets”, he said, stating that it is proving more difficult to bring electric infrastructure to certain parts of the metropolitan area, as well as Girona and Lleida.

To conclude, the company executive insisted on the need to “create the regulatory foundations and standards to achieve intermodality, not only within cities but also across Europe”.

In turn, Manel Nadal, Mobility and Infrastructures Secretary of the Regional Government of Catalonia, officially closed the event and highlighted the growth in public transport use and the strong demand for it region-wide. “Our buses are a huge success and, generally speaking, run very well. There was a time when 44% of students travelled by car. Nowadays, that figure has fallen to 22%”, he said. “Current concession arrangements come to an end in 2028 and bus lines will need to be redrawn under new contracts capable of improving the service offered to the public”, he added.

Manel Nadal went on to underline the importance of innovation, stressing that “technology has advanced a great deal in public transport and we will enjoy integration across Catalonia in 2026, enabling the systems in Barcelona and all other provinces to be used with a single public transport card.”Furthermore, the government representative made a point of guaranteeing improved mobility for all, “including those with difficulties, offering accessible, barrier-free, safe and universal transport.”